What women over 40 want

Every once in a while we need a friendly reminder that our beauty products might be nearing past their expiration date. So you’re picturing tiny bacteria growing all over your shimmery Chanel eye shadow from last holiday season and now terrified that your face will break out in a puffy, bubbly rash. Relax.

There is a common misconception that expired cosmetic products will harm you in the form of allergies, rashes, etc. however, product expiration actually exists because beauty companies cannot guarantee that post-expiration date the product will perform to it’s fullest capability. That is actually why the expiration date exists. So don’t think that your face will burn off if you use a product past its expiration date. It won’t.

What will happen? Products past their expiration date can (and eventually will) change in consistency. You eye shadows, blushes and bronzers will likely lose their pigment, spread unevenly or slightly alter their color. Moisturizers and foundations will be less effective and unlike eye shadow and blush that you can just pile on more, won’t serve their original purpose.

Make-up’s general shelf life:

• Concealer/Foundation: Up to 12 months
• Mascara: 4-6 months
• Eye shadow: 3 years
• Powder: 2 years
• Eye liner: 3 years (if sharpened regularly)
• Nail polish: Up to 12 months
• Lipstick: 3 years
• Brushes: Clean every 2-3 months with mild detergent or brush cleaner
• Sponges: Wash weekly and discard monthly

Emma Dinzebach

If you visit spa-addicts.com or spa-nyc.com or any of the other pamper-loving New York City spa sites, you will be pleasantly greeted by an array of holiday spa specials. Buy one get one 50% off is a great deal at Skintology on 7th Ave and Graceful Spa on West 14th is offering discounted massages. Other specials include couples massages, free add on services with purchase of a facial, complimentary oxygen treatments, and so on.

At The Spa at Chelsea Piers, for every $150 gift card purchased, you receive a $30 credit, and for every $250 gift card, you receive a $50 credit. (Yeah, they apparently cannot perform simple math over there.) But hey, these are good deals! And if you are a little late on your Christmas shopping and can’t decide what to get your mom, sister, brother’s on again/off again girlfriend and so on, check this. You might just be rewarded for procrastination. At spas like Ettia Holistic Day Spa on the Upper West Side, for every four gift services you purchase, you get a fifth free. So if you have four people to buy presents for, you can get a free massage, facial or body wrap.

Even better? Spas are desperate for new clients in the new year, making it the best time to ask for what you want. If you love Ettia’s special but heart Haven’s services, ask them to match it. We tried last week, and four out of the five spas we called were willing to throw in a complimentary service with the purchase of four gift services. (The fifth that turned us down was Bliss.) So go for it. And relish in your present to yourself because by golly, you deserve it!

Emma Dinzebach

Retail season is in high gear, and we for one are happy for a reason to spend. In November, retail added 7,500 jobs and prepared promotion plans to keep customers shopping right through to twenty-ten. Where to shop? If you aim to save suffering retailers, the red list includes old favorites like Phoenix Footwear (not recommended), Zale, Cache, Bluefly and New York & Co. If you prefer to stick with the winners, Saks, Aeropostale, Movado, Syms, and Liz Claiborne in the black.

Louis Vuitton opened a sig store in Sin City. Talbots announced their plan to merge with BPW Acquisition Group in part to pay for their acquisition of Aeon. Talbots plans to use $300 million of their new money (eh, hem BPW’s money) to pay for the Japanese retailer. Fit experts, Intimacy, are capitalizing on “the Oprah effect” and announced their plan to expand from it’s Upper East Side location to a second store in Midtown East.

On the lowbrow, the ever-expanding Victoria Beckham will debut her new eyewear and denim collection on Net-a-Porter today.

But on the higbrow… or Highline rather. Target pop-up returns to Manhattan Friday through Sunday at Gansevoort and Washington at the entrance of High Line Park. Downtown their rejoicing that this year they won’t be forced to trek to Times Square for a taste of Alexander McQueen. Target-To-Go will offer consumers fifty gifts including limited edition Rodarte for Target a week before they hit Target stores nationwide. Only in New York do we get a first shot at a store we don’t even have. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Oops, I meant Ho. Ho. Ho. And Happy Hanukkah!

Emma Dinzebach

It’s been a hard year. Your brain is overloaded with numbers sporting nasty minus signs, your hair missed its 6 week appointment about 3 weeks back, and your skin desperately needs it to choose a season already. As if your current state isn’t dull enough, you look around to see that you are actually outshining all of your loved ones. You feel badly for them. But it’s Christmas and Hanukkah and stuff, so you decide it’s time for everyone on your list to get their glow on and start 2010 shining brightly.

For your visiting bff: Gilt.com is offering Equinox spa specials on massages, facials, training sessions and more. Each purchase includes a 3-day trial membership where out of town visitors or you (because oh, you forgot, you canceled your gym membership in April) can take advantage of the gym, classes, steam room and more starting at just 100 bones.

For your niece: Fourteen year-olds aren’t stressed! Save the massage for yourself and visit blissworld.com. There you can customize a gift box of goodies for your loved ones. Choose from staples like body scrubs and lotions or these way cool hair removal strips. Spend $25 and you get…free shipping! Your niece loves her smooth upper lip, you love the black numbers in your checking account.

For him: Your brother – Head downtown to Freeman’s Sporting Club where you can give him a $25 trim, $40 straight razor shave or a $25 hangover treatment. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds cool.  Your brother-in-law (why do you always pick him?) – Choose John Allan’s because he might be eaten by anorexic hipsters if you send him searching for Freeman Alley. A “Full Service” includes a scalp massage, shampoo, condition, hot towel, manicure and shoe shine. Your sister will thank you.

And if you have any scrilla left over, buy something for yourself something to get your shine on. Glow on sista. Glow on.
Emma Dinzebach